ABDO Graduation Day

ABDO Graduation Day

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) celebrated the graduation of dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians at Canterbury Cathedral on Monday 4 April.

The annual ceremony is a time-honoured tradition where graduands approach the dais one by one to be congratulated by the ABDO President. The ceremonial handshake indicates the moment when graduands become graduates and become a full part of the profession of dispensing optics. ABDO President Jo Holmes, and Ian Davies, Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, both addressed the graduands and their families and supporters who were in attendance.

Jo Holmes said, “A spring graduation is unusual for ABDO, which made it extra special at Canterbury Cathedral this year. The new beginning of the season mirrors the new beginnings of our graduands’ careers. This cohort has shown how committed they are studying through a pandemic, with all the extra pressures of this too within their workplace environments. I was honoured to meet so many proud friends and families and share their special day with them. Every single person who graduated was enthusiastic and ready to take their FBDO qualification to the next level, be it training for contact lenses for enhanced services within their practices, becoming practice managers, and being the best DO they can in practice.”

The next ceremony will take place in November 2022.